SicilySunday was a waste, a day to lie in the bed and lament over the truth about Drake. He was part of the DeMarco-Castaletta clan, and Sicily's brother had been serious about his warning. Some part of her wanted to call and find out the full details on what it could mean, but knowing anything too damning would completely snuff out hope. Hope that she and Drake might become something when she lost her weight and he, what... stopped being a villain?***SicilyShe woke on Monday morning to the alarm, her desire to get up and do anything officially gone. It would have been a good day to get back in the kitchen and experiment a little, but she was due at the police station at eight. How they had her down as a suspect was beyond her, but she would push past her angst and answer their questions. Things would get cleared up and she could get back to her life."Some life it is," she grumbled and milled through her clothes.Drake saw her differently than she saw herself, his words telling h
Sicily"What do you think you're doing?" she whispered angrily."I'm reading the paper. Do you want to read it? If so, just ask." He chuckled and pulled it down. "How are you more beautiful when you're angry? It should be a crime.""Not funny. You're not a lawyer. You own the town gym. Everyone knows that. The cop is going to know that, so what the hell are you doing?" She hated the pissy sound of her voice, but the combination of needing him and not wanting to need him raged inside of her, threatening to spill over and ruin her composure.He set the paper down before moving forward, his actions putting him closer than she wanted. "I'm a lot of things, Sicily. You don't know me and you're judging my abilities. Don't. I don't judge yours."She turned as the girl called her name. "Miss Moretti. You and your lawyer can come this way.""Thank you," Sicily called out a little too brightly. She glanced back at Drake as he stood and moved up beside her. "This conversation isn't over.""Good.
DrakeDrake let out a long sigh as he parked at the gym and locked up his bike. The look on Sicily's face said that she assumed the worst from him – again. He was simply trying to get her to help him figure out why the fuck the sweater was at Judy's. He wasn't insinuating anything. The girl had brothers. She had to know that most men who wanted to say something would just say it.First her thinking that he was continuously poking at her weight and not that she was a criminal."So fucking ridiculous," he growled and dropped the chain the bike. A soft grasp resounded behind him and he realized how loud he had been with his cursing. The Beltmans were walking out of the gym and stopped in their tracks. "I'm so sorry.""It's all right, son." Mr. Beltman reached out and patted Drake on the shoulder. "Something got you stirred up?"He glanced to Mrs. Beltman with a look of apology on his face and nodded. "Yeah. The girl of my dreams is quickly becoming a nightmare.""Drop her ass," Mr. Beltm
SicilyShe still hadn't answered his text from the day before. The honest truth of it was that she didn't know how to. Tugging on her yoga pants and leaning over her bed, she pulled the text up again.Drake: What if... just what if... my question earlier was to try and get you to join my team in solving this mystery? What if I'm actually a pretty decent guy and the type that says exactly what he means? Like, no mincing words or any of that shit? What if you just don't know me well enough yet? Sicily... what if?"Yeah, what if?" she grumbled and fell forward, flopping down on her bed accidentally. A growl left her and she rolled on her back before throwing her legs in the air and trying to wiggle into the pants.Lisa stopped by the door and snorted. "Um, you need some help?""Go away. I'm trying to get these on and someone washed them in hot water.""They're yoga pants, Sis. They are supposed to look like someone painted them on you.""Then never mind." Sicily ripped them from the midd
SicilyDrake responded immediately, the ding on her phone causing her to jump.Drake: What if risking something meant gaining everything? Come to me and let's talk.Sicily: No talking. I'm coming to work out. Play racquetball with me.Drake: You like getting spanked?Sicily: Only in the bedroom.Drake: That's not fair. Vixen.Sicily: What if...She laughed and dropped the phone in her purse before pulling out onto the quiet streets outside of their neighborhood. It was nice not to fight traffic or hordes of people. Now if she could get her name cleared from being the town villain, she'd be good. Good thing she knew a senior counsel defense attorney."I wonder if he takes payment for services in any currency other than dollars." She laughed and parked at the gym, putting her nefarious thoughts away. She needed to be careful where he was concerned. The texts were enough teasing for one day. Maybe...Nervousness rose up in her as she approached the door, but she pushed past it. A playful
DrakeShe was beyond fine as she stood there in front of him, wanting to play ball, but more concerned with how she looked than anything else. His plan was to be totally open and honest with her. She wanted in? She was getting in... as far and as fast as she would allow herself to.He wasn't playing entirely fair as he flung his saucy comments at her, but nothing was ever fair in love and war. She hit the ball hard, surprising him and pulling him out of his meanderings."And what would you be doing in the shower while checking out my assets?" Her voice carried behind her, her pretty face and resulting expressions from the conversation hidden to him."Washing your back, of course." He hit the ball again – hard.She moved toward the front wall, letting the small blue ball ricochet off the back wall. It came right to her. With a gentle tap, it hit the front wall and rolled.Her point. Fuck. He had to change the subject. Getting her naked in the shower wasn't a topic of conversation he c
Drake"Hey... I wanted to come see you last night, but when you didn't respond to my text, I figured it was better to just lay off."She glanced around and nodded toward his hands. "Serve the ball. I was a little overwhelmed by your willingness to be so open. You don't seem like an open kinda guy.""I'm not usually." He tossed the ball up and hit it, starting the game back up. "I want to work on becoming more than friends, so openness is part of the deal, right?""Yes. I'm going to work on it, too. Why did you want to come over last night? Got a new luffa you wanted to try out?" She laughed as she hit the ball against a side corner.He rebounded after it, barely reaching it in time as he grumbled. "Tease."He turned to catch the beautiful expression on her face. His heart fluttered and he knew he was lost. She better fall in love with him or he might have to pick up and start life again, somewhere else. Getting rejected by her and having to hang out in their friend group for the next
SicilyThey had agreed to catch up with each other later that evening. Sicily drove to the bakery with her windows down and the radio off, needing to think through the new information on Martin. Should it matter? Not really, but seeing that Judy's was lying in a pile of rubble, and Drake had a great theory on the kid’s involvement... it did.She parked outside the bakery and sat in the car for a minute, trying to let the odd racquetball game between her and Drake dissipate. Things were moving too fast between them, and yet from what he said, he had been trying to get her attention for months. Why he hadn't given up a while back was beyond her. He was eons out of her league anyway.Martin walked out of the shop and flipped the sign on the front to ‘closed’ as she opened the door and smiled at him. He had been beyond good to her. At least she could start by giving him the benefit of the doubt."Hey." She closed her car door and reached up, brushing her freshly showered hair from her fac
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
DrakeDrake woke up the next morning before Sicily, realizing it was Christmas and he had everything he needed. He rolled onto his side and reached out, brushing his hand down her back as gratefulness washed over him in suffocating waves.D and Michael Carrington had gone to great lengths to help him restart his life. They'd helped fake his death in a warehouse explosion, put on the funeral and D had played the part beautifully through the event. It was horrifying to think he let his brother go through that shit, but D wouldn't have had it any other way.Drake rolled out of bed, his heart aching in his chest. He'd been wrong the night before. He and Sicily couldn't just look away from D and Izzy's bullshit situation. Where he wasn't sure he could get involved in the syndicate again, he could browbeat his brother into being a man and taking Izzy as his woman. There was no other girl for Demetri.After ordering a huge Christmas morning breakfast, Drake wrapped up in an extra blanket, sl
Sicily"That was fun tonight." Sicily squeezed Drake's hand as they walked toward Kadia in downtown New York. The sign lit up the night, taking attention from anyone who passed by. It was magnificent, the largest club she'd seen."Yeah. I had a good time," he glanced down at her, "and I was serious about what I said. We can go back and join your family after we spend a little bit of time with D and Izzy. I doubt they’re staying long. We just wanted to see each other, and it's safer if we do it in the middle of a large crowd."The line was wrapped around the building, people huddling together and singing Christmas songs with all sorts of odd costumes for the event that night. Sicily smiled and snuggled closer to Drake as they walked to the front of the line."The line is back there, man. Go get in it." A sexy bouncer with a great smile and beautiful aqua-colored eyes barked at them. She let her eyes move down to his name tag, wondering who he was for some reason. Had she seem him befor
DrakeDrake let his eyes run across Sicily as she stood in front of the mirror in the hotel bedroom and turned slowly, checking herself out."You look amazing."She walked toward him as he fiddled with his tie, taking over and working on it for him."My brothers never could get a tie on right. The last time I did this for someone, it was at Momma’s funeral." Her hands shook a little. "I did it multiple times that day."He reached up and ran his hands over her hips, enjoying the soft silky black material of her dress. "I'm really good at it. I just wanted you closer."She laughed as a tear ran down her nose. "I'm sorry.""Don't be sorry." He stood and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head as he brushed her hair back. "You can be sensitive over your mom anytime you want, for as long as you want. I'm right here to hold you up."She nodded and pressed her face to his chest. "I just have so many memories of Christmas Eve with her. My chest hurts so bad it feels like acid is ea
Sicily"What did you do while I was shopping?" Sicily stood beside Drake later that afternoon as he loaded up the truck with her packages."I was taking a nap honestly." He put the last of them in the truck and gave her a look. "What in the world did you get?""Presents for all of our friends and something for you." She shrugged and walked around the truck, getting in on her side.He got in and buckled up as the scent of his cologne filled her nose. She breathed in deeper and let out an appreciative growl.Drake chuckled. "What was that for?""You smell good.""Stop diverting. You shouldn't have gotten all those gifts, baby.""Why not? We didn't fly. We'll just put them all in the back seat when we go back home, right?""It's not about where to put them on the ride home, Sis. It's about you spending your hard-earned money on gifts for us. We don't need anything, at least I don't. I have you, baby. That's more than enough." He pulled out his wallet. "Let me give you some money so you c
Sicily"You sure you don't want to come with me?" Sicily forced a pout on her face. She knew without a doubt that Drake would do anything she wanted him to, but shopping was too much. Having some time with her brother and sister for the afternoon would be fun for her, but most likely a drag of sorts. Especially seeing that the brother going was Johnny."I’m sure, beautiful girl." He pulled up to her mother's house. "I'll catch up with you this afternoon.""Will you take me out to see my momma’s grave before we have to get ready for dinner and church?" She leaned over and touched the side of his handsome face. Butterflies danced in her stomach, which seemed silly, but she hoped that he would always have such a strong pull on her."Of course I will." He leaned in and kissed her softly before deepening it a little. She opened herself up, letting him in as he rolled his tongue past her, dominating the kiss in a way that made her blood boil."Behave." She pulled back and smiled."You're th
DrakeThe night was filled with him and Sicily taking turns to explore each other. By the end of it, he was weak, exhausted and completely infatuated with the beautiful woman tucked against him. Not ever being able to sleep well, he was shocked when he woke the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of Sicily talking.He jolted up in the bed, worried that he had missed something. "Baby?""Right here." She opened the various trays sitting on the counter by the TV. "I ordered room service because I didn't want to get dressed yet. Besides, it's snowing like crazy out there."He dropped back down and ran his hand over his chest, watching her as she moved around in a large fluffy white robe. She looked adorable. Sexy."Mine," he grumbled and pulled the covers up. "You know that? You're mine.""I know, you gorilla. You made that more than obvious last night." She nibbled on a piece of bacon and walked over to sit down on the edge of the bed. "You want some?""Of course I do." He r
Sicily"Wow. This place is...""Fancy?" Drake asked as he pulled out her chair. "I heard they have the best steaks in New York.""Something tells me that you're probably right." Sicily sat down, feeling way underdressed for the steakhouse Drake had brought her to. He had on a sports coat over his jeans and white polo, and looked like a million bucks. The best thing in her suitcase was a plain white skirt and a blue sweater with winter boots. She felt cute, but that didn't seem like enough."Evening, folks. Glad to have you in the city and here with us tonight for dinner. May I make some suggestions?" The server wore a white pressed shirt, black slacks and a tux jacket.Sicily sat quietly as Drake encouraged the guy to give his spiel. Once he was done, Drake ordered their drinks and an appetizer. He moved his seat closer to hers and draped his arm over the back of her chair. "You look amazing.""You're just being sweet." She smiled and worked to get her napkin in her lap, not wanting t